Game



Nov. 22, 1932. R. l. MAYORGA 1,888,537

GAME Filed July 24.. 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 '7'f. Y "T L we O I it? 5 Patented Nov. 22, 1932 n STATES PATENT/OFFICE ROBERT I; MAYGRGA, 0F DALLAS, TEXAS GAME Application filed July 24, 1929. Serial 'No. 380,727.

8 This invention relates to anew and novel game and particularly toja baseball gan'ie.

The invention has for an object to provide a baseball individual 1 players or by teams.

Another object of the invention is to provide a baseball game board that is electrically operated, and so arranged as to carry out the playing in a realistic manner.

A further objectof the invention is to provide a pitchers switch in connection with a series of lamps for simulating the throwing of the ball.

still further Object of the invention 18 to provide a concealed pitchers ball and strike switch for the purpose of permitting the pitcher the decision of throwingeither a ball or a strike, together With a batters switch for the purpose of permitting the batter to anticipate a ball or strike, thus making for competitive play.

- is intermittently operated upon the: o era tion of the batters switch in such a manner that the batter cannot monopolize the position of said distributor. 7

Another object of the invention is to provide base switches for the purpose of regis terin g a runner on first, second or t-hird'bas'e, as the case may be. A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described, to,- gether with otherfeatures of the. invention.

The invention willbe more readily understood' from areacling of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings in which an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

game designed for play either by V Figure '1 is a plan view of a game board in accordance with my invention,

Figure 218 8 Figure 3 is an end elevation taken the line 3--3 of Figure 1, i

Figure 4 is a wiring dia ram showing relative position i the switches, the 2-cell bat iery, the distributor and the lighting Figure 5 is-a'n nlarged lanview of the distributor and the bat showing their rela tion to each other, r

side elevation of thesaine; l

Figure 6 is an enlar ed cross-sectional view 1 o'fthe distributor and the hat taken on the line 6'-6 of Figure 5,-

Figure 7 is an enlarged cross sectional view of thedouble throwbat' switch taken on'the line 7-7 of Figure 5, and a a Figure 8 is a detail sectional view showing the mounting of the'lamps. I

In the drawings the numeral 40; designates a base board having the plays, hits, balls, strikes and men portrayed by low v'oltlamps 41, which are mounted under a glass top 43.

Theg'lass is colored to represent a baseball diamond 42 and is transparent only over the lampswhich are shielded radially by guards such as rubber tubes 44, so that the light rays are directed upw'ardlyto indicate the play.

The lamps 41 are screwed into lamp sockets 45 which are mounted on a metal late 16 and each held securely in placeby a headed bolt 47. Within the socket and under the bolt head isa fibre Washer 48 serving as an s5 insulator, The bolt 47 passingthrough a hole 49 in the plate 46 serves as acondue'tor for one side of an electriccurrent. Therefore, a wire leading to the lamp needs: only to be connected to the bolt, the plate serving as acor'nmon ground forall sockets.

The plate 46 is connected tothe negative side of dry cells A,'while the positive side of the cell's has a lead wire A to a pitchers switch B, which is mounted on a panel 50 situated at one end oigthe game board. n

The pitchers switch has seven I contact points-1 ,1 1, P2,- P3, P4, P5 and P6.- The contact point 'P' is dead so that; when the switch is contact with thispoint there is no connection between the lamps and the hat-- inc , tery. The contact points V and 53 of thedouble the position marked Hit P1, P2, P3, P4, and P5 have leads P1, P2, P3, P4 and P5, respectively, to lamps LP1, LP2, LP3, LP4 and LP5, which are situated in and between the pitchers box and the home base. The contact point P6 has a lead wire P6 to a single throw switch 51, the other side of which has a lead wire P6 to a lamp LP6 situated in the home base. Also the contact point P6 has a lead wire P6 to a pitchers control d 16, 18, 24, 26 and 32] have lead wires 12, 16,

switch C which is mounted in a conceale position from the batters eyes.

The concealed switch 0 has two contact points, CS which is marked Strike and CB which is marked Ball, thus giving the pitcher the decision of throwing either a ball or a strike. Thestrike contact point CS has a lead wire Glto a switch 52 of a double thrown bat switch D, and the ball contact oint GB has a lead wire C2 to'a switch'53 of the double throw bat switch D. Y

When the bat switch is moved forward to a position marked Pass the switch 52 of the double throw bat switch makes contact with a contact point 54 and the switch 53 of the same double throw bat switch makes contact with a contact point 55. The contact point 54 has alead wire 54 to a lead wire 68 between a colored lamp L68 situated in the catchers box, and a lamp L12 that is marked Strike. The contact point has a lead .wire 55 to a lead wire 71 between a lamp L71 situated in the catchers box and a lamp L72 that is marked Ball. I

NVhen the bat switch is moved backward Hit, the switches 52 V throw bat switch make contact with contact points 73 and 74 respectively. The contact point 73 has a lead wire73 to a distributor arm 76 of a distributor block E. The contactpoint 74'has a lead wire 74 to the contact point 54. Therefore, when the concealed switch is on the strike contact point CS and the bat switch is moved forward to the position marked Pass the colored lamp L12 which is marked Strike and the colored lamp L68 situated in the catchers box, are lighted, thereby registering a strike. But when the switch C is on the ball contact point CB, the lamp to a position marked 'L72 that is marked Ball, and the lamp L71 situated in the catchers box, are lighted, thereby registering a ball. o

' When the bat switch is moved backward to and the switchC is on the ball contact point CB the colored lamps L12 and L68 are lighted, thereby registering a strike. But when the switch C ison the strike, contact point CS the electric circuit leading to the distributor arm 76 is closed.-

Thedistributor block E has 32 contact oints-1 to 32 inclusive, with lead wires 1 to 32 inclusive, consecutively to lampsLl to L32 inclusive, situated within the playing 7 points 9, 17 and 29,have

- to a combat switch 18, 24, 26 and 32] have lead wires 12, 16, 18, 24, 26 and 32 to a lead wire 68 between the colored lamp L12 which is marked Strike and the colored lamp L68 situated in the catchers box. And the 32 contact points, the odd numbers of-.whi ch[1 to 31, inclusive] of which there are 16, have lead wires of odd numbersl to 31 inclusive to lamps L1 to L31 inclusive, situatedin the field and which indicate the hits. Five of these 16 lamps [L1, L7, L15, L21 and L27] indicate one base hits, five [L5, L11, L19, L25 and L31] indicate two base hits, three [L3, L13, and L23] indicate three base hits, and three [L9, L17 and L29] indicate home runs.

Opposite the 16 odd numbered distributor contact points are 16 distributor combatcontact points of odd numbers from C1 to C31 inclusive. C1, C7, C15, C21 and C27, which are opposite the one base hit distributor contact pointsl, 7, 15, 21 and 27 have a common lead wire H1 to a contact point H1 of a The five distributor contact points The five distributor combat contact points C5, C11, C19, C25 and C31,:whichare opposite the two base hit distributor contact points, 5, 11, 19, 25 and 31, have a common lead wire H2 to a contact point H2 of the combat switch, F. The three distributor combat contact points C3, C13, and C23, which are opposite the three base hit distributor contact, points 3, 13, and 23, have a C0111? mon lead wire H3 to a. contact pointH3 of the combat switch F. The three distributor combat points C9, C17, and C29, which are opposite the home run hit distributor contact a common lead wire H4 to a contact point H4 of the combat switch F. v a

The combat switch F- has a lead wire F G'that is marked Bases, and which has four switch points G4 respectively, to colored lamps LGrl, LG2, LG3 and LG4 situated at first, second, thirdfand home bases in consecutive order. Thus when the circuit to the distributor arm is closed or a batter hits at a strike, the hit or play registered depends on the position of the distributor armr If the armis on contact point 1, a one basehit is registered;. if the arm is 'on, contact point2, an out toleft field is registered; if the armis on contact point 3, a base hit is registered, andifthe Lil (ill

assess? arm is on contact point 4, an out at third base is registered, etc.

But, as all odd numbered distributor contact points are hits and have distributor combat contact points opposite each of them, the pitcher may, by anticipating the hit to be made, set the combat switch F on the proper contact point and the combat switch G on the base contact point at which he desires the runner out, thereby causing the colored light to register at the proper base which indicates the runner is out. This combat play must be kept within the rules of baseball-as a'man who makes a three base hit could not legally be thrown out at first base but if a runner is on first base a three base hit can be thrown home and'catch the runner out,etc.

Three single thrown base switches H, I andJ are mounted on a panel 77 situated at one end of the game board and have a common lead wire A to the positive side of the batteries A and also have lead wires H,

and J in respective order, to lamps LII,

LI and LJ situated in each of the first, second and third bases so that when these switches are closed the proper lamp will light,thereby registering a man on first base, second base, or third base, as the case may be.

The distributor arm 76 is attached to a gear 78 which actuated by a ratchet 79. This ratchet rides in a horizontal position upon two attached pins 80 which slide in a slot 81 in an apron 82 that is secured to a top plate 83 of the distributor box E. The length of the slot 81 is twice the space between each of the gear teeth so that when the ratchet is actuated the full length of the slot 81 the gear and its attached distributor arm is rotated two contact point spaces.

A spring 91 attached to an upright 85 makes frictional contacts with the gear teeth in such a manner that the distributor arm, attached to the gear, is centered on the contact points. A spring 8a is attached between the ratchet and an upright 85 in such a manner that the ratchet is pulled backward by the tension of the spring. A spring 88 is attached near. the forward end of the ratchet between said ratchet and the apron, thereby causing the ratchet head 89 to engage the gear teeth 90. A lever 87 attached to one end of the batters switch actuates a depend ing arm 86 that is attached to the forward pin 80.

Thus the movement of the bat switch backward to the position marked Hit causes the lever 87 to move the ratchet forward until the ratchet head engages the preceding gear 3 tooth so that when the bat switch is returned to an upright position the ratchet through the tension of the spring 84 rotates the gear until the ratchet arm 86 strikes thelever 87. When the bat switch is moved forward to the position marked Pass the lever 87 is re- 'moved from contact With the ratchet arm allowing the spring 8l-to pull the ratchet backward until it is stopped at the end of the slot 81. When the bat switch is returned to an upright position the leverS? engages.

the ratchet arm and moves it forward until the ratchet engages the preceding gear tooth. In this manner the batter cannot monopolize the position of the distributor arm.

Thedistributor may be operated in any suitable .manner and the various switches may be of any construction suitable for the purpose.

Various changes in the size and shape of the different parts as well as modifications and alterations, may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim, is: 1. In a ball game, a baseboard having a playing field thereon and provided with electric lamps for indicating the elements of the game, means for closing an electric circuit to illuminate certain of the lamps to simulate the throwing of a ball, a concealed switch having selectable points of contact for differently designating the play of the ball, a batters switch having selectable points of contact for closing the electric circuits to an- 'ticipate the play simulating the throwingof a ball, and a distributor having .electrlcal connection. with both the lamps indicating tire/elements of the gameand the loatters 7 game, means for closing an electric circuit to illuminate certain of the lamps to simulate the throwing of a ball, a concealed switch having selectable points of contact for des'gnating the play, abatters switch having selectable points of contact for closing the electric circuits to anticipate the play, a distributor having electrical connection with the lamps indicating the elements of the game and arranged to'be intermittently operatedto close certain pre-determined electrical circuits to indicate plays made upon the operation of the batters switch, and a combat switch electrically connected to anticipate and nullify gains made by the operation of the distributor. V V

3. In a ball game, a baseboard having a playing field thereon and provided with electrio lamps for indicating the elements of the game, a selective pitchers switch for closing an electrlc circuit to illuminate successive lamps to simulate the throwing of aball, a

batters switch having selectable points of contact for closing the electric circuit to indicating" lamps/to anticipate the play, a dis tributor having electrical connection with the lamps indicating the elements of the game and arranged to be intermittently operated to close certain pre-determined electrical cir- Q "cuit to illuminate successive lamps to si1n cuits to indicate plays made upon the operation of the batters switch, and a combat switch electrically connected to anticipate and nullify gains made by the operation of the distributor.

- 4. In a ball game, a baseboard having a playing field thereon and provided with electric lamps for indicating the elements of the game, means for closing an electric cirulate the throwing of a ball, a concealed selective pitchers switch having selectable points of contact for closing the electric circuit to indicating lamps for designating the play, a batters switch having selectable points of contact for closing the-electric circuit to indicating lamps to anticipate the play, a distributor having electrical connection with the lamps indicating the elements of the game and arranged to be intermittently operated to a close certain pie-determined electrical circuits playing field thereon and provided with electric lamps for indicating the elements of the game, means for closing an electric circuit to illuminate successive lamps to simulate the throwing of a ball, a concealed selective pitchers switch having selectable points of contact for closing the electric circuit to indicating lamps for designating the play, a batters switch having selectable points of contact for closing the electric circuit to indicating lamps to anticipate the play, a distributor having electrical connection with, the lamps indicating the elements of the game and arranged to be intermittently operated to close certain pre-determined electrical circuits to indicate plays made upon the operation of the batters switch, a combat switch electrically connected to anticipate and nullify gains made by the operation of the distributor, a batters switch and distributor electrically connected with individual lamps for closing the cir cuits thereto to indicate individual plays when the batters switch is operated, and

'means bywhich the-distributor is operated by the batters switch. r I 6. In a ball game, a baseboardhaving a playing field thereon and provided with elec- I tric lamps for indicating the elements of the game, means for closing an electric circuit to illuminate successive lamps to simulate the throwing of a ball, a concealed selective pitchers switch having selectable points of contact for closing the electric circuit to indicating lamps for designating the play, a batters switch having selectable points of contact for closing the electric circuit to indicating lamps to anticipate the play, the combat switch having selectable points of contact electrically connected with certain distributor contact points and with individual lamps to close certain pre-determined electrical circuits to indicate plays made upon the operatlon of the batters switch in connection'with selective pitcherls switch, a distributor having electrical connection with the lamps indicating the elements of the game and arranged to be intermittently'operated to close certain pro-determined electrical circuits to indicate plays made upon the operation of the batters switch, a combat switch electrically connected to anticipate and nullify gains made by the operation ofthe distributor, a batters switch and distributor electrically connected with individual lamps for closing the circuits thereto to indicate individual plays when the batters switch is operated, and meansby which the distributor is operated by the batters switch.

7. Ina ball game, a baseboard having a playing field thereon and provided with electric lamps for indicating the elements and plays of the game, means for successively closing an electric circuit to illuminate certain successive lamps to simulate a pitched ball, a ccncealed selective pitchers switch having selectable points of contact electrically connected with indicating lamps and battersswitch to designate the play, the selective batters switch having selectable points of contact electrically connected with the indicating lamps and with the distributor to anticipate the play, the distributor having selectable points of contact electrically connected with indicating lamps and with the combat switch for closing the circuits thereto to indicate individualplays, means by which the distributer is operated by the batters switch, the

combat switch having selectable points of contact electrically connected with indicating lamps and with certain distributor contact points toanticipate and nullify gains made 1;

by the operation of the distributor.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ROBERT I. MAYORGA. 

